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This Remembrance Profile was originally created by Roger Brooks, PNCS - Deceased
Contact Info
Home Town Sioux Falls
Last Address Morningside Manor Alcester, SD
Date of Passing Jun 27, 2014
Location of Interment Woodlawn Cemetery - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Dale Elton Norstrom, born June 9, 1931, 83 years 18 days old, passed on at Morningside Manor in Alcester, SD on June 27, 2014.
Dale was the second of three children born in Sioux Falls, SD to Fernace “Dick” and Rosalie (Mundt) Norstrom.
He graduated from Washington High School in 1950 and enlisted in the US Navy where he completed basic training at Great Lakes, IL. In the service, Dale served on eight ships including the CVE 115 Bairoko during the Korean Conflict. After returning, he joined the Naval Reserve in Sioux Falls. He also served as the Post Commander of the Sioux Falls American Legion from 1970-71. He then retired from the military in 1991 after 41 years of service having earned numerous honors including: Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal/2 hour glasses, Korean Service Medal/1 star, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Achievement Medal.
United in marriage to Phyllis Brooks in April 9, 1955. They built their home and family together initially in Sioux Falls, SD and then in Harrisburg, SD where he had lived for over 35 years.
Dale retired from Northern States Power (NSP/Xcel) after 35 years of service and was always extremely active in his community with special focus in Military and Veterans affairs. Among other groups and organizations he was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the VFW. Additionally he was a member of the Military Order of the Cooties, 40 & 8, Tristate Navy Chiefs, the Board of Directors for the Battleship Memorial Foundation, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, American Legion Go Getters Club and the VFW and American Legion Honor Guards as well as being involved with the CVE 115 Bairoko Association, the National Kidney Foundation, Meals on Wheels, Historical Society of Hartford, the Indian Guides and Gray Y programs of the YMCA and a Junior Achievement Advisor. Dale was recognized with numerous awards including Legionnaire of the Year (1964, 1991), Naval Reservist of the Year (1965), Citizen of the Year (1980), Veteran of the Year (1991, 2006), Golden Rule Award Nominee (1996) and Senior of the Month (1997). He was also a long time member of the First Congregational Church of Sioux Falls.
Dale is survived by his brother Don (Dette) Norstrom, Sun City, AZ and five children, Barb Norstrom, Omaha, Dianne Hudson, Sioux Falls, Karen (Marvin) Fiegen, Dell Rapids, Dan Norstrom, Omaha, Tom (Sara) Norstrom, Harrisburg. Grandchildren Jonathon (Krista) Hudson, Wahiawa, HI, Jessica Madison, Sioux Falls, Brian Madison, Sioux Falls, Mallory Norstrom, Harrisburg. Great grandchildren Aubrey Madison, Sioux Falls, Elizabeth and Abigail Hudson, Wahiawa, HI with another on the way in December. Three step grandchildren Melissa Fiegen, Sioux Falls, Paul Fiegen, Sioux Falls, Kari (Josh) Gill, Sioux Falls with one step great grandchild on the way in July. Nieces Kim (Matthew) Stanton-Hartigan, Chicago IL, Jill Stanton, Seattle, WA, Ilene Norstrom, Peoria, AZ, and Debbie Buchanan, Madisonville, KY. Dale also has numerous cousins and friends all of which love, honor and cherish him dearly. His Father, Mother, sister Jeannine Stanton and nephew David Stanton preceded him in death.
The family is eternally grateful for the loving care and support provided by the many staff members, associates, and volunteers at Morningside Manor and Asera Care Hospice.
Dale’s funeral service will begin at 1:30 pm Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at the First Congregational Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation will begin at 4:00 pm Monday with the family present from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Heritage Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family wishes for donations to be made in Dale’s Memory to one of these organizations: Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, American Legion Post #15 Honor Guard of Sioux Falls, the U.S.S. South Dakota Battleship Memorial Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.
FUNERAL SERVICE WAS
Tuesday July 1, 2014, 1:30 - pm at First Congregational Church
Other Comments:
Don't Cry For Me Today
Mercades
Don't cry for me today,
I wonldn't want it this way.
Be Strong and smile,
for you will see me in a while.
I know you miss me.
but now in Heaven I will be.
Do not keep your sad face,
I am in a much better place.
Do not let your tears fall,
for I cannot wipe them all.
Yes, my life wasn't long.
But I'm begging you to be strong.
Live every moment as if it were your last,
I won't forget any memories that have passed.
Cherish life an love as I watch you from above.
As I remember all of the good things,
I come to see I have gotten my wings.
It is time to go and fly,
as your guardian angel I will try,
Don't cry for me today,
I'm on my way
Soaring through the sky
I watch all of you telling me goodbye.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Bairoko (CVE-115, later AKV-15), 1945-1960
USS Bairoko, a 10,300-ton Commencement Bay class escort aircraft carrier, was built at Tacoma, Washington. Commissioned in July 1945, she served in the Pacific throughout her career. Bairoko cruised to the Far East in October 1945-January 1946, took part in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini in mid-1946 and made another Western Pacific deployment in February-May 1947. She decommissioned in April 1950, but was brought back into commission the following September for Korean War service.
In November-December 1950, Bairoko transported aircraft from the U.S. to the war zone, then remained in the area until August 1951, operating U.S. Marine Corps aircraft in support of UN forces ashore and anti-submarine planes to guard against the possibility of Soviet intervention in the conflict. She suffered casualties and damage from an accidental explosion and fire in May 1951, but was able to remain in action. The carrier returned to Korea for two more wartime tours, in December 1951-June 1952 and February-August 1953. In early 1954, she was a member of the force supporting nuclear weapons tests in the mid-Pacific. Following routine operations off the U.S. west coast, Bairoko was prepared for inactivation and decommissioned in February 1955. Reclassified as an aircraft transport in May 1959, she was redesignated AKV-15 but saw no service in that role. USS Bairoko was sold for scrapping in August 1960.
